By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Rhode Island’s closely contested races for governor and congress drew First Lady Jill Biden to the Ocean State Wednesday for two campaign rallies, along with an “official” stop to promote teaching.

At Rhode Island College, Mrs. Biden met with students and encouraged them to enter teaching.

She went on to a campaign rally for Rhode Island Democrats Gov. Dan McKee and congressional hopeful Seth Magaziner at the Graduate Hotel in downtown Providence, followed by a “pasta and meatballs” supper for Magaziner in Cranston.

“It starts with you, it starts with all of us, digging a little deeper, working a little harder. And, believing that together, we can elect Dan McKee and Seth Magaziner,” she said to cheers from a crowd of about 150 Democrats at the hotel.

At the event, emceed by Providence Mayor-elect Brett Smiley, most of the Rhode Island Democrats on the November 8 ticket spoke to the crowd before Biden was introduced by Gov. McKee. They included Magaziner, General Treasurer candidate James Diossa, Secretary of State hopeful Gregg Amore, Congressman David Cicilline and retiring Congressman Jim Langevin.

“These fights feel enormous, and they are. Lives are on the line, but they come down to small moments,” Biden said.

“Desperate campaigns do desperate things,” said McKee’s Republican challenger, Ashley Kalus prior to the Biden appearance. “He is calling in for help when he’s getting ready to lose, so he needs help from D.C. to prop him up.”